Conspiracy theorists... are they all just a bit thick?

[Notch 8]

Blown2CV said:

there is a difference between changing your mind about posting something (wow i got a load of st i'll just keep my mouth shut in future as everyone is clearly an idiot), and changing your mind about the position you took (wow i really got that wrong and have grown as a person).

You should be able to post what you like but you need to be prepared to defend it and have the courage of conviction about the strongly held beliefs you said you had.

Agreed, but this looks like a genuine wobble (I’ve had a few myself, just not posted on a forum), and should be deleted if that is what has been requested by the OP.

[MBBlat]

Ken_Code said:

Oxford seem to be doing it the wrong way round. You need the services and facilities available first, you can’t start restricting movement and then hope that what’s needed will just appear.

You have just described the actual concept behind 15 minute cities, congratulations. Note the Oxford scheme has nothing to do with 15 minute cities, it’s all about attempting to reduce local congestion by limiting rat runs, any link is opponents putting two and two together to get five million.

[Ken_Code]

MBBlat said:

You have just described the actual concept behind 15 minute cities, congratulations. Note the Oxford scheme has nothing to do with 15 minute cities, it’s all about attempting to reduce local congestion by limiting rat runs, any link is opponents putting two and two together to get five million.

Patronising and wrong in one paragraph, well done there champ.

Oxford themselves referred to their plans as being based on “fifteen minute neighbourhoods.”

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Toxic-15-minute-city-ph...

[eldar]

Notch 8 said:

Personally, I feel for the guy there, and hopefully the mods will delete it.

Do you share the same opinion regarding racists who have a racist rant, then require the evidence deleted. We are all adults, supposedly, and know to think for a couple of seconds before posting.

Credit to the poster for admitting it was gibberish, demonstrates character.

[Notch 8]

eldar said:

Notch 8 said:

Personally, I feel for the guy there, and hopefully the mods will delete it.

Do you share the same opinion regarding racists who have a racist rant, then require the evidence deleted. We are all adults, supposedly, and know to think for a couple of seconds before posting.

Credit to the poster for admitting it was gibberish, demonstrates character.

Eh? No.

As I’ve said, I think it was a genuine wobble, and I can relate.

[Pincher]

Which thread are you talking about please?

[coldel]

Who_Goes_Blue said:

I don't get why this thread is allowed to persist by the mods. Its not a discussion. Its sniping at other threads from the sidelines then telling people to FRO if they challenge it. To be frank its pathetic. It's like playground bullies, slinging abuse at people then running behind the bike sheds to giggle about it.

Seems to perfectly describe the comments made about me on other threads … so I can only assume we agree on the fact that if you are right, and this thread should be shut down, then those “other” threads should similarly be closed down by mods where anyone that appears to not agree has mud slung and sub-adult sniggering made, yes?

[MBBlat]

Ken_Code said:

MBBlat said:

You have just described the actual concept behind 15 minute cities, congratulations. Note the Oxford scheme has nothing to do with 15 minute cities, it’s all about attempting to reduce local congestion by limiting rat runs, any link is opponents putting two and two together to get five million.

Patronising and wrong in one paragraph, well done there champ.

Oxford themselves referred to their plans as being based on “fifteen minute neighbourhoods.”

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Toxic-15-minute-city-ph...

You do realise that your link backs up my point?
Oxford is implementing the bus gates and has also looked at 15 minute cities, the 2 are not linked in any way except in the minds of the conspiracy inclined.

[Notch 8]

Ken_Code said:

Patronising and wrong in one paragraph, well done there champ.

Oxford themselves referred to their plans as being based on “fifteen minute neighbourhoods.”

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Toxic-15-minute-city-ph...

Interesting CTist comments in that link, solid evidence of the damage echo chambers can do.

[GeneralBanter]

Notch 8 said:

Ken_Code said:

Patronising and wrong in one paragraph, well done there champ.

Oxford themselves referred to their plans as being based on “fifteen minute neighbourhoods.”

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Toxic-15-minute-city-ph...

Interesting CTist comments in that link, solid evidence of the damage echo chambers can do.

Some good retorts to CT nonsense too.

[DonkeyApple]

GeneralBanter said:

Notch 8 said:

Ken_Code said:

Patronising and wrong in one paragraph, well done there champ.

Oxford themselves referred to their plans as being based on “fifteen minute neighbourhoods.”

https://www.localgov.co.uk/Toxic-15-minute-city-ph...

Interesting CTist comments in that link, solid evidence of the damage echo chambers can do.

Some good retorts to CT nonsense too.

I like this bit: 'However, she said the decision to drop the phrase from the local plan would make ‘no noticeable difference to our planning decisions’.'

They consider those people so thick that just not saying the words anymore and carrying on as before to be suffice.

[captain_cynic]

Blown2CV said:

there is a difference between changing your mind about posting something (wow i got a load of st i'll just keep my mouth shut in future as everyone is clearly an idiot), and changing your mind about the position you took (wow i really got that wrong and have grown as a person).

You should be able to post what you like but you need to be prepared to defend it and have the courage of conviction about the strongly held beliefs you said you had.

Another difference is that CTers tend not to know when to bow out from an argument.

I dropped out of the CV19 thread very early on because they started attacking anyone who disagreed with them and were vehemently arguing against basic (high school level) science. I realised that there was no point, I'd just end up looking stupid for arguing with them and took my leave.

I think most posters know or eventually figure out that dropping the argument is better. Usually threads that end up as two or three posters arguing in circles just peter out as the posters realise they're being daft. Sadly there are a few, very few who just won't let go and are undeterred by reason, fact or reality.

I've plenty of "you won an argument on the internet" medals.crommy younger days, they're not worth anything. I'm happy to drop an argument, there is no shame in letting the other guy "win".

[thatsprettyshady]

captain_cynic said:

Blown2CV said:

there is a difference between changing your mind about posting something (wow i got a load of st i'll just keep my mouth shut in future as everyone is clearly an idiot), and changing your mind about the position you took (wow i really got that wrong and have grown as a person).

You should be able to post what you like but you need to be prepared to defend it and have the courage of conviction about the strongly held beliefs you said you had.

Another difference is that CTers tend not to know when to bow out from an argument.

I dropped out of the CV19 thread very early on because they started attacking anyone who disagreed with them and were vehemently arguing against basic (high school level) science. I realised that there was no point, I'd just end up looking stupid for arguing with them and took my leave.

I think most posters know or eventually figure out that dropping the argument is better. Usually threads that end up as two or three posters arguing in circles just peter out as the posters realise they're being daft. Sadly there are a few, very few who just won't let go and are undeterred by reason, fact or reality.

I've plenty of "you won an argument on the internet" medals.crommy younger days, they're not worth anything. I'm happy to drop an argument, there is no shame in letting the other guy "win".

Absolutely, many had the same issue on the Trump thread so don't post there preferring to leave them to their echo chamber.

[Al Gorithum]

thatsprettyshady said:

Absolutely, many had the same issue on the Trump thread so don't post there preferring to leave them to their echo chamber.

It's only an echo chamber in the heads of idiots who like Trump. For everyone else is a useful resource for getting up to date info on his shennanigins. Strange how Trumpets are so passive/aggressive and can't find much/any positive info on the Tango Toddler. They're classic CT fodder.

Come to think of it, every single CT that I know is a Trump fan. Where's that Venn diagreamme?

[captain_cynic]

Al Gorithum said:

thatsprettyshady said:

Absolutely, many had the same issue on the Trump thread so don't post there preferring to leave them to their echo chamber.

It's only an echo chamber in the heads of idiots who like Trump. For everyone else is a useful resource for getting up to date info on his shennanigins. Strange how Trumpets are so passive/aggressive and can't find much/any positive info on the Tango Toddler. They're classic CT fodder.

Come to think of it, every single CT that I know is a Trump fan. Where's that Venn diagreamme?

Pretty much.

Its as Blown2cv said, you've got to be willing to be challenged on your ideas. Most.of us in the Trump thread are... A few people who are usually pro Trump really don't like having their opinions challenged by facts and reason also then play victim.

As far as echo chambers go, the Trump thread is pretty much the opposite. If you provide a reasonable challenge to a poster, you'll usually get a reasonable response.

[coldel]

captain_cynic said:

Another difference is that CTers tend not to know when to bow out from an argument.

I dropped out of the CV19 thread very early on because they started attacking anyone who disagreed with them and were vehemently arguing against basic (high school level) science. I realised that there was no point, I'd just end up looking stupid for arguing with them and took my leave.

I think most posters know or eventually figure out that dropping the argument is better. Usually threads that end up as two or three posters arguing in circles just peter out as the posters realise they're being daft. Sadly there are a few, very few who just won't let go and are undeterred by reason, fact or reality.

I've plenty of "you won an argument on the internet" medals.crommy younger days, they're not worth anything. I'm happy to drop an argument, there is no shame in letting the other guy "win".

There are a lot of studies out there where people have tried to understand the drivers of why people shoot down the rabbit hole, and why arguing with counter arguments are largely ineffective in changing any stance on a conspiracy theory. The reason people drop out the groups is because counter evidence is presented, but the conspiracy remains in minds, so you always see the same outcome of the CT dominating conversations. This would make it appear they have won.

The studies do work hard on defining the difference between a conspiracy, misinformation and disinformation although all three can overlap. Often they saw people that peddle and actively promote conspiracies often start with whats called an inoculation (rather ironically!) something like 'anyone or anything that doesn't agree with you is part of the conspiracy' so it wipes away any critical thinking or objective notions when dealing with data. We see a lot of this even on here where a CT thinks the world is very binary, its them vs everyone else who must think the diametric opposite of them. Indeed politicians are well known to use this kind of language to keep their supporters onside!

Interestingly, I remember reading a study in a US university that took two groups of students, gave them a sheet of paper with the same conspiracy theory on it, one in small font and one in larger font. The smaller font was hard to read and required more focus, the results showed significantly the small font group were less likely to believe what they had read.

Edited by coldel on Wednesday 1st May 10:19

[Notch 8]

Al Gorithum said:

thatsprettyshady said:

Absolutely, many had the same issue on the Trump thread so don't post there preferring to leave them to their echo chamber.

It's only an echo chamber in the heads of idiots who like Trump. For everyone else is a useful resource for getting up to date info on his shennanigins. Strange how Trumpets are so passive/aggressive and can't find much/any positive info on the Tango Toddler. They're classic CT fodder.

Come to think of it, every single CT that I know is a Trump fan. Where's that Venn diagreamme?

I was thinking about this just this morning.

In the run up to the last UK GE, the left were incredibly noisy, and sometimes abusive online.

Now silly conspiracy theories have gone wild (since Covid & the lockdowns), it’s the right that is now pretty rabid.

Edited by Notch 8 on Wednesday 1st May 11:01

[Notch 8]

I thought The Independent wouldn’t appeal to the loons, but here they are…

They’re everywhere now.

[Al Gorithum]

Notch 8 said:

I thought The Independent wouldn’t appeal to the loons, but here they are…

They’re everywhere now.

Independent? Wow, the irony.

I was born in April during a freeze. 3' snow drifts in London. Chemtrails eh?

Edited by Al Gorithum on Wednesday 1st May 12:26

[Blown2CV]

a conspiracy that is far more believable to me is that the prevalence of CTists posting st online is a foreign state-led misinformation campaign to (further) destabilise western society. I find that far far more likely.